France, against the curse of the champion

The fantastic generation of French footballers led by Kylian Mbappé on the pitch and Didier Deschamps on the bench is pursuing one of the most difficult achievements in the world of football: winning two consecutive World Cups and ending the champion's curse.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
17 November 2022 Thursday 23:34
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France, against the curse of the champion

The fantastic generation of French footballers led by Kylian Mbappé on the pitch and Didier Deschamps on the bench is pursuing one of the most difficult achievements in the world of football: winning two consecutive World Cups and ending the champion's curse. Only Italy in the 1930s and Pelé's Brazil in 1958 and 1962 achieved it. 60 years have passed. In modern football, Germany in the 1980s and later Brazil have been able to win three consecutive finals, although without winning.

France travels to Qatar determined to emulate what was achieved in Russia and add their third World Cup. The ordeal is real, because the offensive and defensive football potential of this team is one of the best in the championship, if not the most complete. The doubts fall mainly on the physical condition of some of its stars and on the poor results obtained in the last year, in which they have conceded three defeats against Denmark, one of their rivals in group D, and Croatia during the Uefa Nations League.

To the very powerful team that shone in Russia in 2018, they now add Karim Benzema. The 2022 Ballon d'Or returned to the national team for the last Euro Cup after being separated due to a case of blackmail with a video of sexual content to Valbuena. In that appointment he contributed more offensive resources to a team in which Mbappé, Griezmann, Giroud, Dembélé and Coman already shone, although they failed to get past the quarterfinals after losing on penalties against Switzerland.

The big absences with respect to the 2018 champion team are for different reasons Umtiti, Pogba, Kanté and Matuidi. The novelties are various and weighty. In goal, the seniority of Hugo Lloris could give way to milanista Mike Maignan. In the rear, Saliba and Badiashile provide a wardrobe to the regulars Varane, Upamecano, Lucas Hernández, Pavard and Mendy. In the middle Camavinga and Tchouameni are the great hopes. And his greatest talents are concentrated on offense, where Deschamps is spoiled for choice.

After the World Cup, their last success was the Uefa Nations League in 2021, in which they defeated Spain in the final. Since then Deschamps has changed his game system to present on many occasions a defense of three central defenders with wingers. The latest disappointments have provoked much criticism of the coach, accused of proposing excessively prudent football for the talent he has available. If he gets his stars to come through in full, maybe nothing else matters.

Les bleus should have no problems getting past the group stage, in which they will face Denmark's Dolberg from Sevilla, the strongest rival with whom they will fight for first place, Australia and Tunisia, a priori two minor teams but who will sell face your skin